Your Eye Care

If I'm seeing fine, why do I need an eye exam?

Glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration are just a few of the common eye diseases which affect older patients.

Even if your vision is fine, annual eye health exams can detect eye and systemic diseases in the early stages when it is easier to prevent vision loss. Help maintain quality of life with good eye care.

People with diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and taking certain medications are especially at risk for eye diseases and vision loss.

Everyone wants to protect the eyesight and overall health for themselves and their loved ones - that is why annual eye exams are important. Regular eye care and exams can protect and prevent many eye diseases, if detected early.

Today, a whole range of eye problems can be treated successfully without total vision loss.

Many vision problems can begin at an early age too, so it's important for children to receive proper eye care from the time they are infants.

When should my child have their eyes examined?

It's important for parents to make sure their children's eyes are healthy. Approximately 80 percent of all learning during a child's first 12 years comes through vision.

Good eye health and vision is important to your child's learning, and vision problems can affect their performance in school. Undetected or untreated vision problems can hinder a child's ability to perform to their full potential in school. In fact, many eye diseases can impair vision or lead to vision loss, which is why it is important for people of all ages to have their eyes checked regularly.

At least 10 to 15 percent - or 8 to 12 million - children are at risk for vision impairment. Prevention of these conditions can be easy and can help your student perform his or her best at academics and sports, so schedule your child's eye exam today! While you're at it, schedule your own exam too!

Special Testing Means Extra Special Eye Care

Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT)

Visual Field Testing

Retinal Digital Imaging

Autorefractor

Our OCT helps us better manage glaucoma and diseases of the retina because this technology allows the eye doctor to see the deep tissue layers in the eye. These high-definition images are the only way that they can actually see beneath the surface to the nerve fiber layers where damage occurs. Up until now, eye doctors had to use other tests to indicate damage in this critical area of sight. Common eye diseases such macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are detected early by the OCT when the diseases can be more effectively treated.

Visual Field testing can help save vision because it is another test used to diagnose or rule out glaucoma and other neurological disorders that affect vision. This simple, but effective service has saved lives by detecting various medical conditions such as strokes, brain tumors, and other neurological defects.

A high-definition digital image of the retinal area helps your eye doctor diagnose and manage eye diseases in the delicate retinal area. Damage to these delicate structures of the retinal area is often the first sign of systemic diseases such as MS, diabetes and more. The retina is the “window to the body” and routine retinal imaging can help your eye doctor monitor the changes in your eye health from year to year.

Autorefractors are machines that automatically determine the correct lens prescription for your eyes.

The machine measures the size and shape of your ocular fundus (a ring directly opposite your pupil at the back of the eye) when you are successfully focusing on an image inside the autorefractor.

Automated refraction is particularly useful when dealing with non-communicative people such as young children or those with disabilities.

Refractive Surgery and Co-Management

Are you interested in laser refractive surgery? Dr. Dellinger will evaluate your eyes and discuss your visual goals to help determine if you are an appropriate candidate for LASIK, PRK or Cataract Refractive Technology.

If you have appropriate goals and there are no contraindications for the procedure, we will recommend a pre-operative evaluation with a local surgeon to determine suitability for refractive surgery.
If the decision is made to proceed with surgery, Morganton Eye Physicians offers surgery services while your post-operative management will be provided in our office by Dr. Dellinger. This includes multiple visits over a period of time to include medical evaluation and management of your vision and ocular healing.

Low Vision Services

Low vision is the term used to describe reduced eyesight that cannot be fully corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or eye surgery. The primary causes of low vision are eye diseases, but low vision can also be inherited or caused by an eye or brain injury.

Dr. Dellinger and staff specialize in low vision services and we are one of the main low vision providers in the region. In many cases, people with impaired vision can be helped by low vision devices, which include high-powered eyeglasses, handheld magnifiers and telescopes, and stand-alone magnifiers. Many of these low vision devices and strategies can help visually-impaired individuals get the most out of their remaining sight.

Ocular Injuries and Red Eyes

In addition to the services you already rely on us for, such as routine eye exams, contact lenses, and eyeglasses, Dr. Dellinger also offers treatment and management of many ocular conditions:

Evaluation of vision and ocular health

Treatment of dry eyes

Treatment of “pink eye” and other eye infections

Removal of foreign bodies from the eye

Treatment of ocular allergies or burns

Emergency eye care

This is convenient and cost effective for your whole family and you can be sure you are receiving the proper attention from an eye care specialist.